It's Been A While

Welp, I failed in all endeavors to update this blog while I was away at college. There were many times I felt the need to post something, but these actually take a lot of time and thought from me, and in the grind of school, those things aren't expendable, not like they were in high school and over break.

Now that I'm on winter break and don't have to think about school for a whole month, I figured I'd start these reviews (more like rants) again.

Being an English major and taking all humanities courses this past semester I had to do A LOT of reading. But here I will be focusing on my leisurely reading done over college, which wasn't a lot. I may eventually do a review on the Iliad or other words I thoroughly enjoyed during this semester, but the focus is on the three books I read during the past four months for nothing more than pure enjoyment:

1. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
2. A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab
3. A Gathering of Shadows by VE Schwab

(I actually just finished another one of Schwab's works, Vicious, but that was finished over break so it doesn't count here; review to come independently later)

I've been on the hunt for Song of Achilles since this summer but was only able to obtain the book just before I left for college. I brought it with me on my cross-country journey to a new state and new school but didn't start it until I got into the groove of college-level education, which was around mid-September, also coincidentally around the same time I finished the Iliad for my Greek and Roman Mythology class. 

The Song of Achilles was a beautifully written novel, unique despite its classic basis. I was actually able to write about the novel in my final paper for the course since the topic was on a modern retelling of myth. Here's a little excerpt: "While the entire plot of the Iliad can be traced back to the theme of its opening line, Achilles’s rage, the true meaning of Homer’s song is debated in modern times by Madeline Miller, author of Orange Prize-winning 2012 novel, The Song of Achilles. With the title itself being a clear parallel to the Iliad’s opening lines, it may come as a surprise that the novel is, first and foremost, a love story" 

And a love story it is--a tragic one. Even if a reader does know the outcome of Achilles and Patroclus (like me), the book is still an emotional rollercoaster, following events even after main characters' deaths. I was sobbing in my dorm through the last 60 pages, and then had to leave for a date party like 30 minutes later. I was a mess, and this book gave me the biggest book hangover I've felt probably since All for the Game trilogy from summer break. The love between Achilles and Patroclus was so raw yet soft and endearing, and its ultimate doom was a tragic arc to follow but mesmerizing all the same. I'm a masochist and would often pick the book off my shelf just to read through the scene of Achilles's reaction to Patroclus's death, a horrible event in both the Iliad and The Song of Achilles. Of course, I had some issues over how some heroes of the Trojan War were portrayed, but each retelling of mythology is entitled to its unique interpretation, and overall, I appreciated Miller's. 5/5

The next book I read for leisure didn't come until November. Until then, I'd spent my reading time on An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, an author I wholly appreciate as a person and as an activist in many issues, but for some reason, I could not for the life of me get into her acclaimed novel. Perhaps I'll try again later, but as of now I'm stuck at 60% and feel little inclination to finish the last 40.

Anyway, I finally finished another fun book in November, and that book was A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab. This book was absolute magic. I can find no better word to embody this novel. I'd had on my Kindle since the first book went on sale for ~$2 on Amazon. I've been eyeing this book for a while, but I only started reading for the sake to get away from An Ember in the Ashes, which I was also reading on my Kindle. Soon, I found that this was the book I'd been looking for all semester, something wonderful and imaginative and magical. The characters are vivid and enjoyable and really come off the page, but I am personally partial to Lila Bard, the female lead of the series. Her quotes, such as "I'd rather die on an adventure than live standing still", stuck with me, and I adored her as a person. I mean, it's pretty hard for me to not fall in love with a cross-dressing thief-pirate with a knack for making the worst decision and pulling them off. Also her thing for knives and magic is pleasant. I could go on forever and ever about Lila Bard and Kell and Rhy and the rest of this book with its beautiful and diverse worldbuilding, but I will keep this short and say that this was one of my favorite books of 2016, as was its sequel, A Gathering of Shadows. There is one scene in this that I pretty much have memorized, along with other scenes that were equally wonderful.I hungrily anticipate the third and final book, A Conjuring of Light!

5/5: A Darker Shade of Magic

5/5: A Gathering of Shadows

Mini Reviews: Mean Streak, The Wrath and the Dawn, & Slammed

Ahh, I haven't been on here in a while, so please excuse my very poorly-written reviews. None of them contain spoilers, but none of them contain summaries of the content either. (Feel free to click on the Goodreads link beforehand) It's basically just my thoughts on what I liked and disliked. I've been in a major reading slump this whole year, so I'm really grateful to have come across some great novels this summer.


Mean Streak by Sandra Brown is one of the first adult fiction novels I've read and I loved it. Not gonna lie, I mainly bought this book because it was only $3 in the bargain section at Barnes and Noble, but girrl let me tell you - this is such an exciting, action-packed read. There were so many plot twists and secrets that you can't help but keep turning the page. Since the book is definitely geared towards mature readers, I would definitely say that the romance is a lot more...intense (sex is not censored lol) so proceed with caution if you're not used to that stuff. On a more serious note, the problems that these characters have to deal with (marriage, affairs, death, rape, etc.) can be an eye-opener because no matter how far-fetched and ridiculous it may play out in a fictional story, these horrible things happen in real life to real people. Brown does a good job of manipulating the readers' feelings to suit the plot, and this played a big factor in leading us to certain conclusions while she's setting up something completely different without us knowing. You won't get bored with this book and I highly, highly recommend!!

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20454672-mean-streak?from_search=true
Rating: 5/5
*Recommended for mature audiences (18+)

As someone who isn't a huge fanatic about fantasy novels, The Wrath and the Dawn (#1) and The Rose and the Dagger (#2) by Renee Ahdieh were surprisingly addicting. First of all, I didn't know that this duo-logy was supposed to be a retelling of Arabian Nights, until Alyssa told me. Second of all, I don't even know the premise of Arabian Nights, so it wouldn't have made a difference in my opinion of the novels anyway. The world is beautifully described; the middle-eastern culture is so richly & consistently portrayed in everything: language, wardrobe, names, etc. One of the things I couldn't get enough of was the relationship between the two main characters: Sharzhad and Khalid. Renee Ahdieh did a good job of showing that relationships are much more than possession, which is a very crucial message to send out to younger teens. “It was because they were two parts of a whole. He did not belong to her. And she did not belong to him. It was never about belonging to someone. It was about belonging together.” -The Rose and the Dagger One of the notable themes that the author made sure to incorporate was feminism - and just how important it is in any culture. Sharzhad is an extremely strong character yet she's rational and doesn't lose her wits when she doesn't get what she wants. She can handle her own and doesn't need anyone to save her from anything. It contains a bit of mystery and magic as well, so if you're into that, check it out. (If you're not into that, check it out anyway. It's good.)

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18798983-the-wrath-the-dawn?ac=1&from_search=true
Rating for both books: 4.5/5

Colleen Hoover! Such a well-known author in the contemporary genre. I don't know why I didn't pick up her books sooner. I read Slammed (#1) and Point of Retreat (#2) and they're the type of books that pull you out of an extremely long reading slump. At least, that's what happened in my case. I believe this is also categorized in adult fiction, but it's not as graphic as Sandra Brown's novels. This is mostly a romance/contemporary novel, unlike the books above which dabble in varying genres. Although that might sound appalling and boring to some people, trust me, it's not. Unless you don't like romance at all...then in that case, I wouldn't recommend this to you. The chemistry between the characters are so fun to read that it becomes normal to read one of these Hoover novels in a day. I'm a huge sucker for romance, but a lot of the times, I end up not finishing contemporary novels because it's too boring to go through. I was worried that this was how this book was going to turn out in the beginning because there's that instant, love-at-first-sight sort of passage within the first couple pages. However, the one thing that's different with this is that there are many plot twists and that factor is good enough to make you keep going. The characters have to deal with some heavy stuff like death, grief, and illness, which makes them very relatable and all the more better. One last thing I loved was the incorporation of spoken word poetry. In order to achieve the feeling of this, Hoover emphasizes different words by italicizing them or breaking them down - all so that you can try to hear it being performed as you're reading, which is very cool.

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13372690-slammed?from_search=true
Rating for both books: 4/5

Pride Month and Literature

June is almost over, which puts me closer to going away for college, aka not having all the time in the world to read and write. But I'm excited for college!

This month has been...tumultuous. From Orlando, to Brexit, to every tragedy in between, this month hasn't been the kindest to the world. I'm not a very emotional person, but there have been moments during this month where I just want to fall on the floor and cry for every hurt people have felt and continue to endure for the sake of love. I support the LGBTQ+ community, I support the starry-eyed and hopeful youth, I support tolerant and loving people, I support love. Love is love, and if you don't believe that the rest of this post probably isn't for you (the blog probably isn't for you) 

With that said, this month I immersed myself in literature featuring LGBTQ+ leads. It started unintentionally, but when I did notice the trend, I carried it through the month.

It doesn't count but I read The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater back in May, and yeah...Pynch is the shit.

June reads:

1. King's Rising by CS Pacat

2. The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic 

3. The Raven King by Nora Sakavic

4. The King's Men by Nora Sakavic

5. Check, Please! updates by Ngozi (this is a webcomic, not a book but fuck it)

6. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

And what do you know, every single one of these books features a main couple that is gay. 

In Pacat's trilogy, you have a slow burn between Prince Damianos/Damen (bi) and Prince Laurent (gay). What I really enjoyed about Pacat's fantasy world was how normalized the LGBTQ+  features of the story were. In Vere, it's typical to be in same-sex relationship, and in Akielos it's up to your taste from what I can tell. And no one judged Laurent for sleeping with Damen because it was gay, but because he killed his brother, which is honestly such a better reason to question someone's relationship. But no matter their pasts, these two murdered me with the conclusion of the Captive Prince trilogy. Thinking over it now, I'm totally going to properly review King's Rising as the book deserves.

My last post was about All for the Games trilogy, so I won't go into too much detail. All I have to say is that the main relationship isn't all fluff and nice, but rarely are the best relationships. Both of these guys have their problems, but it's in the way they support and understand each other that makes them such a good fit. Neil and Andrew are both forces of nature, and sometimes it's a surprise one hasn't killed the other. Then you have to remember that Andrew only wants to commit murder 90% of the time he's with Neil (inside joke to the book, I'm sorry). Andrew has touching issues, which totally makes sense considering the sexual abuse he endured as a child, and Neil respects his boundaries fully, and it's so nice to see two people understand and accept each other. This couple took a long time to get together, but the building relationship between them in TFC and TRK are just as intriguing to follow and watch develop.

As alluded Check, Please! isn't a book, but a webcomic by super talented artist Ngozi. The webcomic is accessible via tumblr for free and please do yourselves a favor and READ IT. I got into this thanks to a stray post by someone I follow on tumblr. It spoiled the end of Year 2 for me but I didn't care because the whole story is amazing (and barely halfway over). There's still so much time for shit to go down, which makes me terrified because the main couple is so perfect and adorable and healthy. Like, if you compare Year 1 Jack Zimmermann to Year 3 Jack Zimmermann, you can see the change. Jack is currently engulfed in the glow of love, and he needs that more than anything as he starts his NHL career. There is underlying angst in this couple/story because they both have to keep the relationship a secret from everyone, including their best friends, for the sake of Jack's career. But man, cute as shit, and if you don't want to read this for the couple, read it for the characters!! The SMH team is full of hilarious and unique characters, and this comic is a national treasure. 

Finally, the book I got from Barnes and Noble yesterday at ~4 PM and finished just before midnight that same day...Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Now, let me tell you the feature of this book that really got me: identity. Chicano identity, sexual identity, just pure 'who am I' identity. As a Chicana, there was one word in this whole book that really got to me: pocho. In Spanish, it means half-assed Mexican. And never have I felt a single word hit me harder. I'm not going to talk about my struggles with cultural identity, but this book hit me hard. It probably would've hit me harder if I had read it a few years back, when I knew less about who I truly am. Now that I have a clue of what kind of person I am, the story didn't rip me to shreds as much as it once could've. That doesn't mean the story didn't kill me. Sáenz's writing style is short and seemingly simplistic, but with his words he carries depth and emotion. I would be smiling down at this book, then rubbing my eyebrows because 'holy hell did that just happen?', then on the verge of tears because this book got me in places not many other book have. Ari and Dante are totally different people that mesh together perfectly. From Dante's first words to Ari to the last damn chapter, I was routing for them. I am kind of upset I read this book so fast because it was totally unintentional. I got it at Barnes because I felt the need to go out and do something, and then next thing I know I'm in a severe book hangover in the dead of night, listening to Radiohead. But I was revived at the news that there will be sequel to this, and you can bet your ass that I am going to pre-order it and read it all in one day and probably turn into a pile of tears. I'm excited to see where Ari and Dante's journey and relationship goes in the sequel, and I'm sure I will be re-reading snippets of this book for a while.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe: 5/5 stars

All for the Game Trilogy

You know, I truly consider myself an avid reader. There are definitely people who run book blogs who read a lot faster than me (and put up better reviews) but I still think I'm a well-paced reader. That said I can't remember the last time I read a book in 24 hours...let alone for 3 days in a row.

Meet the series that changed that: All for the Game trilogy by Nora Sakavic
Book I. The Foxhole Court, finished 6.20
Book II. The Raven King, finished 6.21
Book III. The King's Men, finished 6.22

Spoilers to follow...

I picked up this series upon recommendations after completing the Captive Prince trilogy (I will maybe do a full review for King's Rising later, but to skip to the end I gave it 5/5 stars). I didn't know what to expect but it sure as hell wasn't this. It sounds typical, yes, but it's the truth. Part of me was prepared for a story taken over by 'the college experience' aka drinking, partying, hooking up. And while there were those elements in the book, it didn't consume the story. Another piece of me was expecting lighthearted tones despite the premise of the book. I laugh thinking about that expectation now because it was CRUSHED.

Pictured right: Foxhole fanart by squidwithelbows.tumblr.com. She's great check her out!! (Top to bottom: Neil Josten, Kevin Day, Andrew Minyard)

Every character in this series is a mess, which is exactly why they're brought together at Palmetto State to play Exy. I will not attempt to explain Exy to you but it is violent (like ice hockey violent) which makes it very exciting for a person like me. Contact sports are my shit to play and watch and now read about lol.
Back to characters. The team has a natural rift between them. There's the upperclassmen: Dan, Matt, Allison, and Renee. These guys have their own layers of problems (not with each other but themselves) but they have nothing on the other half of their team: the monsters, as the upperclassmen refer to them as.
Kevin, Andrew, Aaron, and Nicky. All of them have their shitty problems, probably with Nicky getting it off easiest with his homophobic and hyper-religious parents who think he is pure sin. Sounds pretty lame, but just read about everyone else's situations. But I love Nicky as the only open gay character in the first book. He's flirty despite having a boyfriend back in Germany but also the safest out of the monsters to approach. Out of the four I think he is the only one that would say hi to me. But that doesn't keep me from loving the monsters, especially Andrew!!
Andrew and Aaron are twin brothers, though they didn't know each other for most of their lives. If there wasn't the reminder that they are brothers, you would think they hate each other (and maybe they kind of do. Like I said, everyone is messed up). Andrew is dubbed a sociopath by even his own group and fits the part with his violent spells, calloused personality, and psychotic smile, as caused by his meds. I do not have the heart to spoil or talk about what happens to Andrew in TRK but to summarize: it crushed my spirit and this boy will always be very important to me as a character.

The protagonist of the series is Neil Josten. Just another boy with a messed up past and uncertain future? Yes! But while he has a screwed up past like his new teammates, his is a lot more lethal and deadly. As the only son of the Butcher, a notorious mobster who loves his cleaver and carved up bodies, Neil has been on the run for the last eight years. He was raised in a horrendous way that causes him to react differently to what seems to normal to us. He has a mental breakdown over getting a phone, guys. This boy is precious to me I mean just look at him (once again amazing art by squidwithelbows.tumblr.com)

I don't really know what made me so addicted to this book. Some of my favorite things to see and write about in stories is a group dynamic, and All for the Game nails this. The rift between the Foxes seems impossible to mend at the beginning of the series but by the last game of their season you see that they're a family. They may not all get along but that doesn't matter. They are jagged pieces that fit together to make a whole, beautiful family. Even before their win over the Ravens, Neil can see that his team is a home like he's never had before, and he's willing to fight for it, no matter how much it will hurt him. He went to Evermore Castle, literally the hellhole that is their enemy's lair, just to make sure Andrew got out of the hospital fine and the Foxes were safe over winter break. TRK destroyed me, from Neil turning himself over to the biggest demonic asshole to exist, Riko Moriyama, to Andrew in general. I think it might be my favorite book in the trilogy but that is very hard to say.

This series was suspenseful, wonderfully written by Sakavic, and composed of some of the best characters I've ever read. As I write this review, I realize that I can't embody the pure emotion I have for this series. I laid on the floor, blasting music and staring at the wall, after finishing TKM because it was over. This trilogy I sold my time and heart to for 3 days had met THE END. I haven't dared to open another book because this book hangover is severe. It is even affecting my writing, which is not appreciated but I would never have missed out on the opportunity to read this. I can genuinely say that this book series has impacted me as a person, reader, and writer.

The Foxhole Court- 5/5
The Raven King- 5/5
The King's Men- 5/5

Bring on the Night Court

Some books you know you love from page one. Some books you know you love only when you reach THE END. A Court of Mist and Fury was somewhere in between (actually more like page 400 out of 600), but the fact remains the same: I love it. I'd go as far to say it's the best book Sarah J Maas has published.

This book is unique for a fantasy novel. While there is the prevalent banter, hot characters, and action that composes a Maas novel, there's more in this. There's Feyre healing. There's Rhys healing. And there's the former love interest being an asshole.

ACOMAF SPOILERS TO FOLLOW
you have been warned...

Let the record show that I was skeptical of Feyre and Tamlin's falling out prior to reading ACOMAF. I didn't doubt for a second that Feyre/Tamlin wasn't going to be endgame after this book. Have you seen Sarah J Maas's Pinterest board for ACOTAR. It's all Feyre/Rhysand as far as main couples are shown. 
In Queen of Shadows, I personally felt as though Chaol, the protagonist's former love interest, was entirely ruined as a character for the sake of the new love interest, Rowan Whitehorn, a character I do not adore. I like him enough, but he's an ember compared to the characters, both male and female, of ACOMAF.
So I went into ACOMAF terrified that Maas would sacrifice a character she spent a whole book building up just to pair her protagonist with a new love interest. Such is not that case!
After skimming through ACOMAF's predecessor, A Court of Thorns and Roses, I found that hints to Tamlin's true nature, as revealed by ACOMAF, were woven into Feyre's narrative. Especially in the case of Under the Mountain. It seems like everyone did something to help Feyre through her trials--everyone except for Tamlin. Well, okay, maybe Amarantha and her cohorts, too.
But it's one thing to not help the proclaimed love of your life when she is being chased by a giant, toothed worm, or when she gets an infection from the bone impaled in her arm, or when Amarantha goes to snap her damn neck because in helping her, you risk her life, your life, and your people's lives. It's another thing entirely to trap said love of your life (who has some PTSD/depression issues following her traumatic experiences TO SAVE YOUR ASS) inside your home when all she wanted was to keep helping you.
Tamlin was doing nothing to help Feyre heal. If anything, he and Ianthe made everything worse. This noted, I'm not one of the fans who aggressively wants Tamlin dead. Yeah, he sucks, he was stupid for going to the King of Hybern for help, but this guy has his problems, too. I am NOT condoning his actions, but I feel like there can be room for redemption in the next and final book in the trilogy, so long as Feyre allows it. 
Onto better things than the Spring Court, the Night Court. Each member is unique and witty. All of them have their tragic pasts which they've overcome to stand at their High Lord's side. And their High Lord endured a hell of a lot to return to his court and people in Velaris. Out of the bunch of them, I think I have an odd appeal for Amren. Quiet, lethal and short hair. I dig it.
But, as typical for me, my favorite new character from this book doesn't originate in the Night Court...but the Summer Court.
Tarquin, High Lord of the Summer Court. The unsung character of this novel who was around for 50 pages --if that. I'm upset that no one ever talks about him. Guess it's my fault for always liking the secondary male characters best (@ Lucien in ACOTAR).
From the Summer Court to the Night Court, the new lands explored in ACOMAF were all well-developed and creative. Velaris's beauty was told magically, and the edgy horror of the Hewn City helped establish why everyone thinks the Night Court is awful. Any court in Prythian would be deemed terrible if they had a Court of Nightmares. 
While the book was long, the prose and story was captivating throughout. The slow development of Rhys and Feyre's relationship was nice to read across the majority of the novel. Some chapters between them made me very emotional, especially Rhys's story concerning his long-term bond to Feyre, a bond that existed well before ACOTAR began. This story is about Feyre, but it's also about her and her mate recovering from Amarantha's reign of terror with each other's help and love. I think that's part of the reason why their relationship is so lovely to read and experience. Or it can be that they both are snarky, strong characters.
This book dealt with healing after traumatic experiences. Not just for a female lead but her male counterpart, too. But for Feyre, I think she finally understood what she is capable of in this book. She is a powerful Fae Made by the seven High Lords, and now she gets to be a badass High Lady disguised as Tamlin's little doll in the Spring Court.
The end of ACOMAF saw several questions unanswered, but I'm really excited for the third book in this trilogy to come out next spring. As of now, it's my most anticipated book for 2017.

You guys should check out jp-designs.tumblr.com for the beautiful artwork shown in this review. She does an amazing job of portraying Feyre and Rhys in two scenes from the book.


Also check out Sarah J Maas's playlist for ACOMAF. I personally love it.

Review: Me Before You

It's almost June and so far, I've only finished 2 books this year.

Me Before You was one of them. I finished this in 4 days, which is quite impressive considering my reading slump was/is at an all-time low. 

This novel made me laugh, smile, and metaphorically cry. (I say metaphorically because it's pretty difficult to make me cry from a book but my heart did ache very much as I was reading this story.)

I consider this book under the genre of adult-fiction-romance. It's wonderfully written, at the point where Louisa Clark's positive, radiating, hilarious voice infiltrates your own daily life. It makes you rethink the way you set your mentality, at least that's what it did to me. Personally, I'm a big pessimist and it helped me see that looking at the bright side and making the best with what you have shouldn't be the scariest thing in the world. 

The banter between Will and Louisa made me smile a lot. Brits are very witty; it's fun reading from their perspectives. The characters' personalities are very well-developed, which helps the readers relate to them a lot more. This is something that I feel is very essential in romance novels. 

I love the message about living your life to the best of your capability, without the implication that you have to go out and do something stupid while screaming "YOLO" at the top of your lungs. 

Will Traynor, the male protagonist, is such a complicated character who you just want to make happy. His unfortunate circumstances highlight the pain and depression that many people feel in this world. Although it may not be to the extent of a quadriplegic, Jojo Meyes does a good job of weaving in the dark and bright sides to life. That's why it becomes very easy to relate and immerse yourself within this story. 

I'm really glad and excited for the upcoming movie starring Sam Claflin and Emilia Clarke. In my opinion, they are perfect for their roles! Just check out their instagrams if you don't believe me. 

My rating of 4/5 stars is subjective because the ending upset me at the end. If I was a professional, unbiased book reviewer, I'd probably lean towards 5/5 stars. 

Goodreads Summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15507958-me-before-you
Subjective Rating: 4/5
Objective Rating: 5/5

Catching a Raven

Hey! It's been a month since my last post, and that may originate in the fact that I haven't been doing that much reading in the past few weeks.

So, since I last posted on here, I decided to end the month of March by finally picking a book off my shelf that's been sitting there for years: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. I tried reading her other series--Shiver--but didn't really enjoy it enough to continue. Even this book, I tried a couple times but could never get into it. But third time is truly a charm--I got dragged into the world of Glendower and Henrietta, Virginia, a world that is beautiful, magical, and sometimes terrifying. Where there is Nino's and Monmouth Manufacturing.

What really got me is Stiefvater's writing style and how realistic her characters are. All of them are flawed, sometimes so much so that I get angry with them. In the case of Ronan, I range from being agitated with him to wanting to give him a hug (he'd probably shove me off). The same situation applies to Adam. Then there's Gansey. Oh Gansey, never has there been a rich boy like you in literature. He knows he's entitled and blessed with his life and his wealth, and he struggles to be appropriate to those that don't come from his world. He commonly makes offensive remarks to Adam and Blue without intending it, and I think that is what's so great about his character. He tries to be the kind guy, but it can come off as condescending. He struggles to find a middle ground, which is a nice approach for a teenage millionaire. Blue is a special entity upon herself. I want her to be happy and feel like more.

Of course I got into this series with the dawn of its conclusion in the near horizon (my copy of The Raven King was shipped out yesterday!) and I've been rushing to catch up. Unfortunately, after blasting through The Raven Boys I couldn't find the sequel, The Dream Thieves, at any local bookstores. I had to order it online and wait for it to come in the mail, and by the time it did, school had engulfed me again. I wasn't able to finish the sequel until today which gives me only six or so days to get through Blue Lily, Lily Blue, the third book in this series. Usually that wouldn't be much of a challenge, but AP testing is soon upon us, along with several finals and projects. I'm really hoping I can steal some time to fit in this beautiful book!

The Raven Boys: 5/5 stars
The Dream Thieves: 4/5 stars

Hitchhikers and Hamilton

YO. So I finished 2 books this month--I think? Maybe 3? In all honesty this month has been a bit of a blur. Between college decisions (a new form of misery and elation bundled together) and a strenuous senior year and soccer season back in motion, time is just...not there. At least not there for me to read, write, or update this blog.
But here I am. Finished gov reading, finished psych homework, and it's time to update my life.

For starters, I finished reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams this past weekend on my camping trip (in which Fran was in attendance of). The book had some amazing elements to it, such as it's satirical wit and SPACE. Conversely, sometimes the sci-fi sections were too much and confusing, and this is coming from a girl trying to write a space opera. Either way, this story was full of a lot of humor and great quotes and interesting characters. My attraction to the book was solidified by it's first page alone. With its laughable criticisms of humankind, I knew I'd discovered a book that fulfills one of my criteria: poking fun at human nature.
I'm excited to read more of Adams' works within the Hitchhiker's galaxy, but with how much I have to read, I don't know how soon that will be.
4/5 stars

"Arthur blinked at the screens and felt he was missing something important. Suddenly he realized what it was.
"Is there any tea on this spaceship?" he asked.” ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Now, to the latter of this entry's title, something that is totally unrelated to my reading: Hamilton. GUYS if you haven't listened to the Hamilton soundtrack yet...please, listen. From a girl who spent several years of her youth listening to Wicked on repeat, this musical is amazing. Like, history with rap and pop and a diverse cast that doesn't care about what race the Founding Fathers were? Where can you possibly go wrong, especially when Lin Manuel Miranda is at the forefront.

Thus, to lead you in your listening of Hamilton here is a list (what a surprise) of my top 10 songs:

1. Washington On Your Side 
2.  Right Hand Man
3. Satisfied
4. Alexander Hamilton
5. Take A Break
6. What’d I Miss
7. Wait For It
8. My Shot
9. Your Obedient Servant
10. Non-Stop

Do note that this is an extremely loose list. Like my Star Wars score list, it's fluctuating constantly. Also, if you really are reading this and thinking about listening to Hamilton, please do so in order of the actual album, not this list. You get the story (and the emotions!!) by listening in order.

So yeah, there's March. Binge-listening to Hamilton, suffering under school's reign, and occasionally reading and writing. Big emphasis on occasionally.

Currently reading: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Book Thief by Mark Zusak (both for school)

The Burden of Aspiring Writers

Another episode in which I deviate far from the contents of what is entailed in a "book blog." But I feel as though this is some noteworthy things to share.

That's a misleading title though because first off, I am not writer. And I don't think I will ever have the courage or persistence to consider myself as one. For the past four years or so, my mind has always been coming up with these new stories and ideas that never make their way onto paper. Little snippets of scenes are the closest things I have to a finished product, and it's so infuriating. Although there are the joys of being stuck in your own little world, the means of getting it down on paper is extremely difficult. It's maddening and horrible and intensifies my mental instability to an all-time high.

Here's a journal entry I wrote about my frustrations and it sounds absolutely insane for people who don't know what I'm talking about but I swear it pertains to my creative process 98% of the time.

3/6/16

An Open Letter to My Characters

The thing is that I've given up so much of my time for you. I could be 60 pages closer to finishing Crime and Punishment, I could have been working of my makeup work for Stats, or I could have been revising my extended essay. But I dropped it all and I will keep on dropping everything until you have finished your business with me. 

I understand that I am blaming you for the procrastination that I have imposed on myself, but every year this happens. You are taking a toll on my mentality and physically making me sick from exhaustion. My mind can't ever think straight without reverting back to you. Like what in the actual fuck??? Who does that???

All I ask is one thing: for you to tell me your story. But every time I try to give you time to expose yourself, you somehow always change your mind. I'm left with wasted hours of staring at a blinking cursor or a blank page. You have led me to believe that mental constipation is just as bad as actual constipation. (I should know. I am a veteran in both areas.)

I know it's nice to be able to dream about things like this, but no one really tells you how exhausting it all is. Writing a novel - writing anything that is valuable enough to be read in public - is such a laborious job. 

So please, just stop wasting my time and tell me what you want to tell me. 

-fq

A couple days after I wrote this, I found a video that perfectly describes everything I feel in regards to the pressure of being creative and being successful in channeling that creativity. I highly recommend watching Elizabeth Gilbert's (author of Eat, Pray, Love) TED Talk linked below. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA

Crime and Punishment

It's March and this is the first book I have finished this year LOL.

And yes, I broke almost all of the points listed on my New Year's Checklist. My apologies. 

Anyway, I was assigned to read Crime and Punishment for my IB English class and although it was cool to be learning about Russian literature, I had to trudge my way through the denseness in this book that so often put me to sleep. You're essentially in the mind of a killer and taken through the journey of guilt eating you from the inside out. (There were a lot of prepositions in that previous sentence, please ignore them.) First of all, the names take a bit of getting used to: Raskolnikov, Svidrigailov, Razumihin, Pulcheria, they all sound like a type of exotic fruit. After the first 60 pages or so, however, you get used to it. The next challenge would then be your ability to stay awake through the explanations of abstract ideas. For example, Raskolnikov, the main character, has a theory about humans being separated into either the "ordinary" or the "extraordinary" and how these labels play a crucial part in the advancement of society and the justification of breaking the law. That whole section took me about three times to read over because I did not understand what the hell they were trying to say. Dostoyevsky does a good job of manipulating the readers into sympathizing with characters that would typically be seen as antagonists. In fact, almost all of his characters were very complex and elicited a strong emotion of either hatred, pity, or admiration at one point or another. I don't know if it's because the work load was relatively heavy or if it's because the book is really meant for more highly intellectual minds, but I found myself getting more frustrated than interested throughout the book. However, I do feel really accomplished to have finished this novel. It definitely would not have been something I would have picked up on my own, so I'm glad that I was exposed to a new type of literature. 

Goodreads summary: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7144.Crime_and_Punishment?from_search=true&search_version=service

Rating: 3/5

Leap Day Shenanigans

Leap Day has extended the pleasures of February while also prolonging high school seniors' sickening anticipation in regard to college acceptances that come with March. I'll be ignoring my own unease (I got into two of my dream schools this month though!!) in favor of recapping the month.

I've only read one book since my last post: Nine Stories by JD Salinger. Salinger has yet again reaffirmed my love for him and his writing style. His short stories are all unique but in that same tone that is undeniably Salinger-y. His characters are some of the most realistic ones in literature, the stories are raw, and his dialogue flows so smoothly. I admire him, so much so that I purchased his other collection of short stories, Franny and Zooey, today.

Talking about my book splurge, here are the reads I snatched today (when I ditched school lol)

1. Franny and Zooey
2. The Sirens of Titan
3. Tao Te Ching

Funny enough, I was borrowing the Tao from my friend but decided to buy my own, Barnes and Noble Classics copy. It has some really good life advice, and the excerpts relate to some bits of my current WIP. 

Reviews of each of these books will come one day, but I'm currently back on the Captive Prince series with it's sequel, which FINALLY came in the mail. Have to admit, I'm kind of irritated that the dialogue uses ' rather than the classic " but we'll see if I adjust to it later in the book.

While my reading hasn't been the most productive, my writing has! From January 31st-February 28th, I wrote 20,778 words with my WIP's total word count being 48,931 currently. Hopefully the trend will continue into March and I can wrap up this novel before senior year is over! And shout out to Fran, the best beta-reader-editor ever. 

Ratings--

Nine Stories: 5/5 stars

Currently reading: Prince's Gambit by CS Pacat

Currently listening to: The Clone Wars Score

Currently watching: The Clone Wars, The 100

Reading and Writing

Hello!
While February is a month defined by love (thanks Hallmark), for me, it's been filled with reading and writing. On the last day of January, I started tracking how much I write a day and honestly I've been doing pretty well. From the 31st-12th, I wrote a total of 12,921 words, which averages close to 1000 words a day so woo! Hopefully I can wrap up the first draft of my current work in a few more months.
With the writing aspect out of the way, we get to the main part: reading. I finished two books this past week, and while neither were blow-outs/five stars, they were better than anything I read in January. My books of choice were Lost Stars by Claudia Gray and Captive Prince by C.S. Pacat. Both earned a 4 star rating but for entirely different reasons.


Lost Stars is a part of the new canon Star Wars universe. It covers everything from A New Hope to the Battle of Jakku that followed the end of Return of the Jedi. But instead of through the eyes of the main cast, we're given protagonists Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree. Through the story, the pair goes from best friends to lovers to enemies (based on their status, not on their hearts). While the story was a better take of the Star Wars universe compared to episode VII's novelization, it still wasn't amazing. The characters were just okay, though the romance was real. There were some moments I loved, some lines I loved, but nothing made it extraordinary.

Captive Prince is the first book of a trilogy I've seen all of my favorite authors rant about. I decided to pick it up for their sake and wow. This book is sensual and enrapturing. It has a very unique and diverse setting, and the manipulation and deceit of Vere's court is compelling. This book was in no way intended for young readers. It has some very graphic scenes, including mentions of rape. That said, I found it a captivating read and finished it in only a couple days. It wasn't given a full 5/5 due to overflow of information thrown into your face that could become hard to take apart. Also it's anti-climatic end. Still a great read and can't wait to read the sequel, Prince's Gambit (which I can't find ANYWHERE)

Other notes to my life in February--
Currently reading: Nine Stories by JD Salinger and Hamlet by Shakespeare (school)
Currently listening to: Jupiter Ascending score by Michael Giacchino (especially the First and Fourth Movement)
Currently watching: trying to catch up with season 3 of The 100 and Boys Over Flowers, marathoning Lord of the Rings trilogy, and American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson

Happy Valentine's Day!

Another pointless post by Fran

I haven't posted anything in a while because I don't have anything to post about and it's infuriating!
I don't have any books to read or stories to write. I could have used finals week as an excuse but since I'm a worthless piece of human, I'm not spending any time on that either. (Evident in using this time to blog instead of studying for my huge bio final coming up in 12 hours).

Alyssa, on the other hand, has published parts of her work on wattpad and you should definitely check it out. (Alyssa's Wattpad account)

After this week, I will try to read and write more actively. If any fellow bookworms are actually reading this, please recommend me some good books! I'd greatly appreciate them.

2016, starting with a flop

 Happy New Year! 


With the new year, I created a new list of books I've read in the course of 2016 (which is currently at two). While adding these two books to the list, I looked over my 2015 books. I immediately noticed a trend between the two: both years I started off with books I was very 'eh' about. All of my favorite books from 2015 were read in between July-December. Anything before was mediocre, maybe a few good ones here and there. Though I am only two books into 2016, the trend seems to be reoccurring. First, I should say what books I've already read this year.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster 3/5 stars (got an extra star for my sympathy towards anything Star Wars-related)
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 2/5 stars

Both books were bleh, especially Frankenstein. This book was required for my AP Lit class and managed to be a painful read throughout. I could not handle Victor as a narrator. The writing style is also too old and bland for me. I don't think I gave two stars to any book last year, so woo Frankenstein you've won my worst rating since 2014--congrats!

Star Wars:TFA is the novelization of the movie, which I loved. The book fell short in several areas: dialogue, character descriptions, depth. It was very superficial and a big disappointment. I'm still going to read another Star Wars novel, Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, because it has been getting much better ratings than Foster's contribution to the Star Wars literary world. 

So yes, 2016 has commenced with beyond mediocre reads. I can only hope that the trend continues with amazing books later into the year!

I'm currently reading several books at once, but The Road by Cormac McCarthy requires my most immediate attention (school reading for AP Lit woo). I'm only twenty pages in and I feel another eh book coming along.

I'm also reading Maus Volume II by Art Spiegelman and Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld